BLOOMINGTON, Ill. — The No. 5 seed Dubuque Miners’ second season came to a close Saturday afternoon with a 19-7 loss to the No. 4 Midwest Renegades in the first round of the 2026 Mid-West United Football League playoffs.

The final score was Renegades 19, Miners 7. The Miners’ only score of the game came on an interception return in the final two minutes of the 2nd quarter cutting the deficit to 10 at the end of the second quarter to 17-7 Renegades.

Despite the eventual defeat, the big story of the afternoon was the Miners’ defense. After the early pick-six for a touchdown the defensive unit continued to battle, limiting big plays and keeping the contest competitive far longer than the final margin might suggest. In a road playoff environment against a higher seed, the Miners’ defense repeatedly forced the Renegades to earn every yard and prevented an early blowout.

The loss ends the Miners’ season at 8-3 overall (6-2 in MWUF play). That record represents a remarkable turnaround for a program still in its infancy. In their inaugural 2025 campaign the Miners finished 1-7. This year they earned a playoff berth as the No. 5 seed and made the postseason in just their second season of semi-pro football.

Players, coaches, board members, volunteers, sponsors, and Miners Nation turned a fledgling organization into a competitive playoff team. The defensive foundation laid throughout the regular season carried into the postseason and kept Saturday’s game close after the early interception touchdown.

The Midwest Renegades advance in the MWUF bracket. For the Miners, the focus now shifts to reflection, development, and building on the progress of 2026. An unforgettable second season ends earlier than hoped, but with clear evidence that the foundation is solid and the trajectory is upward.

GO MINERS.

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